Orpha J. Thomas, 70, a longtime resident of Amenia and Dover Plains, NY died on Friday, October 21, 2016 at Calvary Hospital in Bronx, NY.
Mrs. Thomas was born on September 23, 1946 in Gouverneur, NY. She was the daughter of the late Thomas Eugene and Dorothy (Cole) McGuinness. On June 22, 1968, in Gouverneur, NY, she married George Thomas, who predeceased her on April 8, 1999.
Mrs. Thomas was a 1965 graduate of Gouverneur High School. In 1966, she began working as a direct care therapy aide at the Wassaic Developmental Center in Wassaic, NY, where she worked for 27 years. Mrs. Thomas was a member of CSEA. She spent years advocating for employees and helping countless people in the community in need of various levels of assistance. Mrs. Thomas also spent many years being a senior citizens advocate. She received the Town of Amenia Senior Citizen’s Award in 2003 and Wassaic’s Citizen of the Year in 2010.
Mrs. Thomas is survived by her two sons, Scott Thomas of Dover Plains, NY and George Thomas and wife, Dawn, and her grandchildren, Austin, Hailey, Connor and Logan, all of Staatsburg, NY. She is also survived by three brothers, Kenneth “Buggs” McGuinness of Edwards, NY, William McGuinness of Dover, NY and Jim McGregor and wife Lisa of Fowler, NY.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 27, 2016 at the Hufcut Funeral Home, 3159 Route 22, Dover Plains, NY. Funeral services will follow at 6 p.m. at the funeral home with Deacon David Weinstein officiating. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA, 125 Humane Society Rd, Hudson, NY 12534 or the Amenia Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 166, Amenia, NY 12501.
For directions or to send the family an online condolence, please visit www.hufcutfuneralhome.com
